Arveset Farm | C.F. Møller Architects

Arveset farm dates from 1849. It is a historic farm from an era, when much of Oslo was still agricultural land. The farm is currently a residential centre for the homeless and is also part of a major project which aims to preserve a number of Oslo's historically important arable farms.

The project reinterprets two farm buildings torn down in the past – the stables and the carriage shed – as part of the residential centre.

The design expression and size of the new buildings correspond to the original building mass but make no attempt to conceal that they have a new destiny – as residential housing.
The shape, proportions, choice of materials and colours has been deliberately selected to give the buildings a sturdy and coordinated look.

The façades are clad with a mixture of vertical and horizontal wooden panels in different widths, painted in English red. Like the remaining cladding, the sheet metal roofing of the stable building makes distinct references to the history of the buildings, whereas the roof of the carriage shed is made from the original tiles.

Along the façades, new tall windows give new vibrancy, variation and light ingress to the residential units. The open-plan living rooms in the new residential units are light and sunny. Bearing in mind the centre's social function, all the apartments have rugged interiors and security alarms.

The Arveset farm project is of signal importance to both the local community and society generally: The project's reinterpretation of the two buildings showcases and enhances the cultural and historical identity of Arveset farm while bringing a new significance to the historical setting in its current social context.